Storyboards: Alviara

Part 1 - Adventurers: Joining Adventurers | An aquest | The apprenticeship | Alviara's title | A family reunion | The meeting | "Lost" | "...and found" | Bridesmaids

Part 2 - Riva: Returning to Riva | The healing | Failure | Awakening | The goodbye | The teacher | The stranger | Naevin | Recognition | The funeral | Letters home | Shopping | Dressing up | The fields | Almost sisters | An almost kiss | The wedding | An unexpected visitor | Khuldir | A dance | A little bit of fun | Bliss | Love | A ring, a promise | The morning after Conversations over breakfast | Love's rose | Shock | Leaving | Pieces of my soul

Part 3 onwards

Joining Adventurers
The sun shone over the Imperial City of Tol Honeth, dazzling the eye as it reflected off the city's white marble walls. Alviara stood in the middle of the over-crowded Town Square, trying to catch a glimpse of all the different sights. Thronged on all sides by a crowd filled with native Tolnedrans, hefty Alorns and a few Murgos, she made her way through the crowd. Her green eyes glittered as she viewed the numerous shops surrounding her. As she jostled through, she saw a young lady step out of an expensive looking jewellery store. Dark brown hair spilling over her shoulders, she had curious black, liquid eyes. Alviara recognized her as an Algar. Dressed in a deep blue dress trimmed with white lace, she stepped out gracefully from door and started walking down the congested road.
Watching her, Alviara noticed that as she bumped into a stiff backed Cherek in her way, the thin gold chain around the lady's neck fell as she jerked and landed half hidden in the mud. Oblivious of her loss, the woman kept walking on through the crowd.
Alviara hurried up near where the necklace had fallen and stooped to pick it up. It was a thin gold chain with a pendant hanging from it. The pendant was in the shape of an arrow studded with a large, clear blue stone at its tip. The stone made her think of blue skies and ocean waves.
Clearing her thoughts, she scanned the crowd for the blue dressed women and spotted her turning around a corner a few paces ahead. Alviara made a futile attempt at getting to the corner fast enough to catch the lady. Even her shouts were drowned out by the noisy crowd. Increasing her pace, she turned the corner to see the woman had disappeared behind another one.
Shoving her way through, Alviara found herself being led on chase through the streets until she found the women disappear into a dark side alley. Frowning, she wondered why the women would want to go there. Shrugging, she followed her in and saw the corner of the lady's blue dress swish into a nearby open door. Cautiously, walked closer to the door and stepped in.
The next moment she was on the floor fiercely fighting for her life. Tumbling through the dust she flung blows at her opponent and quickly unsheathed her dagger. Thanking her quick reflexes, Alviara rose from under her attacker and pressed the blade of the dagger against his neck. Dark, liquid eyes stared back at her. Alviara realized in confusion that her opponent was none other than the lady she was following.
In her surprise she noticed that the lady no longer wore a blue dress but was garbed in men's clothing. "Who are you?" Alviara whispered.
The woman pushed the dagger away slowly and looked deep into Alviara's eyes. "I see the fire in there. And the spirit."
Confusion washed over Alviara's face but the woman paid no notice. She reached to Alviara's hand and removed the necklace and placed it around Alviara's neck.
"You have it in you to be one. Welcome to the Adventurers."

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An aquest
A narrow, dirty alley stretched ahead in front of Alviara as she walked stealthily through the streets of Sendar. Alviara smiled at the quest master who stood in front of her, donned in a white robe.
"Good morning, Floyd, do you have anything for me to do for you today?" She replied to him. Floyd looked thoughtful for a moment and then replied,
"Aah yes, as a matter of fact I do. Cassandra, the owner of Cassandra's Catch of the Day in Tol Rane is in need of some assistance. I'm sure you will be able to help her out." Alviara nodded in agreement and waving good-bye to Floyd, let herself out of his home. Quickly she walked to the Sendarian Market Square and made her way to the East gate. Traveling on, she kept walking east of the crossroads until she was shrouded by the Sands of Sorrow on all sides. Out in the distance she could make out the image of Tol Rane's city gates.
As she entered the city, she stole a few moments to gaze at her surroundings. All around her were a large number of buildings, criss-crossed with many lanes and alleys.. People were milling from here to the there and were crowded in the Market Square trying to buy their wares and commodities. A delicious smell of bread wafted from the southwest corner of the market square. Inhaling deeply, Alviara walked up to the Bread Stand and surveyed the bread spread out before her and then said,
"Excuse me please, but would you be kind enough to give be directions to Cassandra's Catch of the Day?" The baker behind the counter, obviously disappointed at his customers lack of interest in his sales, sighed deeply and said,
"Why yes, go south from the market square through the Medina, till you come to the common square. Take a turn into the East Aldur Drive there and keep going. Sooner or later you'll find Cassandra's." Alviara grinned with pleasure and thanked the Baker, and to please him and her growling stomach, bought some iron rations. Following the directions she had been given, Alviara soon found herself before a tiny shop, smelling strongly of fish. Stepping in, she saw a tall woman standing before her, arranging some salmon in a box. Alviara guessed her to be Cassandra and moved forward to get her attention. The woman turned when she noticed some movement and then cracked a beaming smile.
"Well good day, milady. Would you like to have some of this salmon? Its been freshly caught." Masking her distaste for fish, Alviara forced a smile and politely declined. "I was actually sent to you by Floyd. He thinks I might be of some help to you," she said. If possible, Cassandra beamed even brighter and then said,
"Oh yes! You see one of my most precious objects has been lost and I have been searching for someone who can find it for me. You have to be quite brave for this, for where you are going needs some stealth." Alviara frowned slightly, wondering what this lady had in store for her. "You see,” she whispered dramatically. "I have lost my intricate metal statuette and last I heard it was under the volcano in Zedar's mountain." Alviara smiled slightly, she loved challenges and that was one place that she had been told would be one.
"I'll be happy to do this for you, Cassandra. I'll be back as soon as I can." Turning, Alviara let herself out of the shop. Stopping outside, she produced a yellowed map from her bag and spread it out. Pinpointing Zedar's mountain, she swiftly started making her journey there. She made her way back to Sendar and then through the forest. As she drew closer to her destination she noticed that strangely the morning sky had darkened to a dull grey over her. All around her, vultures circled in the sky and there seemed to be a permanent stench.
Deciding that she must take some precautions, Alviara gathered her Will and cast a cloak of invisibility around her. Then she set forward to the looming volcano in front of her. She could feel the glaring heat of the orange lava boiling as she made her way up the path winding around the mountain. Tiring often, she sipped some water and cautiously trudged on.
Finally, she reached the crater and looked in to see that if she took one wrong step, she would find herself being roasted alive in molten magma. Steadily, she made her way down the narrow path lining the inside of the crater. Balancing herself precariously, she felt her way lower and lower into the volcano. Suddenly, she stopped short, saving herself just in time as in front of her the path had given away, causing a large gap to be created and any unlucky person who lost his or her footing to fall to a gruesome death. Breathing deeply, Alviara mustered enough of her Will and cast herself to be airborne. Now that she could fly, she easily travelled along the broken path to the area under the volcano.
Landing safely, she began her search. First, she scanned her surroundings for anything unusual and when she found nothing, she walked around the in the voluminous caverns searching for Cassandra's coveted article. The heat was unbearable and it felt like she was wandering in the Desert of Araga but she pushed on. And as luck favoured it, her entry in the next cavern saw her spotting a certain something glinting on the floor. Stooping to pick it up, Alviara sighed with relief, exhaustion and pleasure. Spinning around, she wearily made her way up the steep path again, but this time she flew swiftly and reaching the top of the mountain, made her way down and then journeyed back to Sendar.
Feeling the metal statuette safely inside her bag, Alviara found herself back on the way to Tol Rane, and soon she was standing right where she began, before a sign that read 'Cassandra's Catch of the Day' in lilting handwriting. Entering triumphantly, she removed the statue from her bag and placed it on the counter.
"I have succeeded in finding what you wished for, good lady," she told Cassandra.
"Why thank you, Alviara! May Nedra bless you with eternal riches! But I too will show my gratitude, please, take this as a reward for your work.” Beaming, Cassandra handed Alviara a jingling leather purse. Grinning, Alviara accepted the purse and was turning to leave when something stopped her.
"You know what?" she said, seating herself and trying to drown out her rumbling stomach, "Maybe I will have some of that salmon."

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The Apprenticeship
All her life, Alviara had lived in Riva. She had never seen anything beyond the fortress city but the rolling waves in the Sea of Winds. Growing up in a family in which her only companions were her three brothers, she had spent most of her time training to fight rather than wearing fancy dresses or learning how to cook.
As time passed, she learnt that she could not only handle a sword, but could also wield her will; she learnt that she was a sorceress.. Proud of her newfound ability, her parents enrolled her under the care of an old sorcerer, who taught her all her knew of the art. Under his care, she was able to hone her talent and put it to best use.
On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Alviara was walking on the beach, watching the white foam lap against the sand. She stood alone, staring at the Rivan citadel, the place where the Orb of Aldur still lay protected, waiting for its Guardian to come again. In that instant, she was infused with an idea, like many Alorns before here had been, to restore the Rivan king to his throne. Thus began her great quest for the Chosen One, the descendant of Riva Iron-Grip, which led her to sail across the Sea of the Winds and arrive in Tolnedra where she began her search.
Her journey had been cold and hard, and somehow in the bustling streets of Tol Honeth, she was sworn into a group of special and courageous people who rendered help and service to others... They called themselves "The Adventurers" and she suddenly found herself a part of a whole new family that was knit together with friendship and love. Among her new clan she found a source of warmth and strength. She found a sister she had never had and friends who were with her through thick and thin. They taught her the values of humility and kindness. Through them, she was able to finally find herself and her strengths.
With their aid, she was able to journey far and wide, and continue to search for her lost king, but still stopping on the way to help someone in need. With their aid, she was able to journey far and wide, and continue to search for her lost king, but still stopping on the way to help someone in need, like a true Adventurer.

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Alviara’s title
Raindrops splashed noisily on the cobblestone streets. The dark grey clouds loomed in the sky, showering Camaar with an incessant downpour of water. Murky puddles dotted the roads and filled the ruts, causing a continuous splish-splash sound of water filling up higher and higher. The tiny, but perfectly straight streets, were deserted, for good Sendarian common sense prevented anyone from wandering out in the rain and catching a chill... All but one solitary person was to be seen.
An old woman, with wispy grey tendrils of hair adorning her face, sat crouched under the awning of a store, wrapped in a black blanket. Her deep brown eyes failingly hid a certain twinkle of knowledge and wisdom, which gave away her otherwise inconspicuous image. She sat there, in her little shelter, rocking herself slowly back and forth. Her eyes lifted as she noticed a certain drenched traveller walk up the street. She was surprised to find, on closer examination, that the person was a woman. Dressed in now-wet, unadorned blue clothing, the stranger’s dark hair was matted against her scalp due to the water, and she shivered involuntarily. The old woman sighed.
“You!” she called out. “Come here! Get out of the Torak blasted rain, you silly girl!” The girl stopped short and peered curiously at the wise woman. Wiping the sliding raindrops from her eyes, she hurried quickly under the protective awning and shuddered again.
“What in the name of the seven Gods were you doing out there?” the old woman demanded, unwrapping the blanket around her and handing it to the young lady. Now that she had had a closer look, she noticed the girl’s brilliant green eyes. She could see stone hard determination in them, but at the same time, there was a sense of compassion and love glowing through them. She also noticed the curious heart shaped white mark on the side of her neck
The young girl averted her eyes and said stiffly, “Thank you.” She wrapped the blanket around herself just before she sneezed.
“Now, now. There’s no need to be cold to me, missy. I might have just saved you from catching something too serious,” the old woman replied.
“I’m sorry,” the girl replied apologetically. “I really am grateful.” Looking out at the never-ending rain she said mournfully, “Will this ever stop?”
“Well its been going on like this for three days now. They say there’s something out of the usual with the weather. Has to do with the Sea of the Winds and some sort. All I can say is that I’d joyful to see the sun ever again. That is, if those blasted clouds ever move away.” The old woman shook her head disdainfully.
The girl’s smile was wry. “I’d try to, but all I would do is probably make it worse for the rest of the world.”
The old woman frowned. “How could you help the weather?”
“Well,” she confided. “I dabble in a bit of sorcery, if you may call it.” Her idle hands pushed away her dark hair and then started fingering a chain around her neck.
“Where are you from, girl?” The woman asked abruptly. The girl blinked.
“From Riva.”
The old woman’s hands lingered. Then they reached lower and caught the girl’s restless hands.
“May I have a look at that?” she asked.
“What, this chain? Oh, yes, if you’d like to.” She removed it carefully from around her neck and handed it over. The old woman grasped it lay the pendant hanging on it onto her palm. It was shaped like a slender silver arrow, but had a large stone on its tip, mirroring the cloudy grey of the sky. The girl sighed. “I don’t know how that happened. Ever since I landed at Camaar, the pale blue of the stone has changed to that grey.” The old woman looked at the young lady, and handed her the pendant.
“Why don’t you try changing it back?” she said. The girl hesitated. “C’mon, girl, give it a try.” Slowly she covered the stone with both her hands and shut her eyes. She whispered a word, too soft for the old woman to hear. The old woman felt a surge and smiled. The girl opened her eyes and looked at the stone. It was the same luminous pale blue once again. “Now look outside, dear.” The girl looked up and out at the street and gasped.
The rain was gone. The only water left was lying stagnant in the puddles. The sun was shining again in the sky. Curiously, a sky that was the same blue as the stone. The girl looked questioningly at the old woman.
“You possess with you a stone that had the power to affect the weather. Through it, you can safely wield your will without causing disruptions in other places of the world like normal weather tampering would. But, bear in mind; it is not exactly the weather you are changing, but actually the wind. The wind blew away the clouds to give us sunshine again.” The woman explained. “What is you name, girl?”
“Alviara,” came the awed reply.
“Well, Alviara, you are the Weaver of the Winds.”

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A family reunion
Alviara stood impatiently at the habour, the salty sea breeze whipping through her shiny, black hair. All around her there was a thick fog descending, making it difficult for her to look out at the arriving ships from sea. Worried, she glanced back and forth at the people around her. Raucously drunk Chereks roamed through the port of Camaar, filling the atmosphere with delirious laughter and out-of-tune singing. But none of it helped to calm Alviara's nerves.
Suddenly, a gliding Cherek ship materialized out of the thick fog. Catching her breath, Alviara watched as it lowered its anchor with a thud and beached. She squinted to see the people on the ship standing at the railings, waiting for it to come close enough to the shore so that they could climb down the ramp and get off.
Moving quickly, Alviara, walked to the place where the passengers were disembarking. There she stood, searching the crowd for a familiar face, when she soon spotted a tall, dark-blond haired man making his way towards her with a beaming smile on his face.
"Javed!" Alviara shrieked and threw her arms around him as soon as he was near. Laughing, Javed lifted his sister into the air and twirled her around like he always used to.
"Oof! You've become heavy." He said, with a mock-serious expression, once he had put her down. Alviara hit him playfully and then smiled.
"God, I have missed you." She said. Javed feigned a gasp of surprise.
"Belar! I never dreamt a day would come when you would say that." Grinning, he ruffled his kid sister's hair and looked at her speculatively. "How've you been? It's been almost forever since you left Riva. Well, almost a year actually, but it definitely feels like forever." Alviara nodded a bit regretfully, leaving her home had been difficult, but her quest for fulfilment and her duty towards her king had squelched the thought of ever going back unless she had restored the Rivan king to his rightful throne. Lifting herself from those thoughts, she brightened and tugged at Javed's arm.
"Well? Are we going to stand here all day or what?" she asked.
"Yes, yes. Lets go someplace. I've been dying to catch up with you. Oh. Mother and Father send their love. And Brenan and Nasir wish they could have come too, but its time for the sheep to be sheared, and Father really needed their help."
"Fat lot of brothers they are." Alviara grumbled. "Can't come to meet their dear, little sister." Then she sighed. "How's Mother's health?" Javed frowned slightly,
"Not nearly as bad. She's still holding up really well." Alviara nodded gravely and then led her brother down from the docks into the city. There, they settled themselves down at a tiny restaurant.
"So, where have you been living? What have you been spent travelling actually. You know, it's difficult to find traces or hints anywhere as to where our king might be."
"Don't lose hope. I know you, if you want something, you will definitely have it," Javed replied.
Alviara nodded. "But I'm also really happy. For some time, it was like I was all alone here. But now, I've found this whole group of people here who are like a second family. We're a clan. A clan called the Adventurers."
Javed chewed slowly and then asked. "Well what do these Adventurers do?"
"Well we mostly help people out. I've been working with them and assisting the one's who need help. You know, make them feel comfortable and at home. And then I've also been on the look out for new people who can be a part of out clan. Teaching them some of the new ways and getting them out of tight spots. It gives you this amazing feeling inside, you know. I'm so glad I'm a part of this, it helps me give other people my best and I've been working really hard to keep us all together. I think I've started to see the whole world differently now, they've seemed to influence me, and I them," Alviara replied contentedly.
Javed grinned. "Looks like you've already accomplished what you came for then?" Seeing her confused expression, Javed patted her on the cheek and said, "You came here to give back Riva her pride and honour didn't you? Well, I think you've achieved just that."

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The meeting
Raucous laughter echoed through the tavern, making the tiny cockroaches in the dark corners scuttle away with fear. The loud noise of drunken men, singing while swaying, banging their half empty beer mugs on the wooden tables, sloshing out the murky beer and screaming for more, was deafening.
In the corner of this dirty little tavern, holding a cracked mug in his hand sat an old man, alone, his watchful eyes taking in every inch of his surroundings. A careful observer would have noticed with amusement that the old man was wearing mismatched boots and instead of an ordinary belt, he was using a length of soft rope to hold together a disgusting, gravy-spotted tunic. The man smoothened his short, white beard and looked deep into his swirling ale. His sharp ears sifted through the flitting conversations all around him and he listened intently at the ones he wanted to hear. Dismissing the voices of some men talking about their wives, he instead concentrated on the talk in a table nearby.
"Tol Honeth is becoming a bit tiresome now, Kharen." A lofty Cherek rumbled, taking in a deep swig of his ale. "The trade seems to be slowing down this winter, and I think its time I returned to Val Alorn and looked into how Riena and the children are doing."
"Patience, my dear Jerak, our profits are a bit low now, but I do have an inkling as to how to make them swell." Kharen rubbed his Drasnian nose speculatively and then grinned. "And anyway, there's a new band of people in the city, say their acrobats and can perform splendid stunts. I'm sure they will need some of what we have to offer. They are supposed to perform tomorrow for her Highness, the Princess Ce'Nedra herself. I'm sure they'd require the best for that."
The bearded Cherek sighed. "Somehow you always find a way to keep stalling, my Drasnian cousin. Just when I finally get homesick for Val Alorn winters, you tempt me with offers of profit." Then suddenly Jerak frowned. "Is it really wise to do business with these type of circus folk? They are said to be a handful of trouble."
"Trouble," Kharen answered slowly. "No, all I've heard is that one of them seems to be on the lookout for some people. A girl she is, apparently looking for her aunt and younger brother. Gave a mighty good description of them and said she would pay a lavish sum for any kind of information." The old man's ears perked up.
"Did I hear someone say the words 'lavish sum'?" He interrupted jovially. Kharen and Jerak looked up good-naturedly and Kharen said,
"Why yes, I was just telling my good friend here that the new band of travelling acrobats have a hefty offer for the entire city. Word says that one of the acrobats wishes to find a woman. Unearthly beautiful she is said to be, with dark black hair and deep blue eyes. Sounds quite normal to me, except for one thing, she is said to have a single snowy lock above her brow."
The old man's eyes narrowed and then quickly returned to normal. "Oh, she's also supposed to be accompanied by a little boy, but there seems to be no information provided about him."
Kharen nodded as he finished and then took a sip of his ale. The old man tapped his fingers thoughtfully and then asked, "Is it possible for me to meet this person? The one giving the reward."
"Of course, you'll find her with the others at the Golden Coin Inn." Jerak replied. The old man feigned startlement.
'Her'?" He asked. Kharen nodded and then said,
"Rumours floating about her too, say she has some kind of powers. Powers to control the weather and weave the wind they say." The old man blinked and then stood up. Control the weather? He thought. That couldn't be done without damaging the cycle of seasons. Smiling graciously, he thanked the men and walked out of the tavern door, on his was to meet this mysterious weaver of the winds.

The washed over him when he had first seen the girl and he had even felt some amusement. He always did when he witnessed the great lengths Alorns, especially Rivans would go to, to find the Rivan king. He shook his head, Alorns! The girl had seemed sensible enough, but obviously filled with ideas of honour and duty.
He sighed. But she was as harmless as a toothless tiger. Nevertheless she did have a strong will, he mused, reminding himself of how careful he had to be when he had probed her mind ensure it was really the Rivan blue. I was never really good at that. But then I always left it to Pol.
Taking a turn into an alley which he knew was a short cut to the tavern, the old man dipped into the darkness and felt blinded for a moment eyes adjusted. He cautiously walked deeper into the alley, and heard the clutter of some dustbins and presumed he had scared away some cats.
Suddenly there was the noise of someone walking. The old man grew alert. He thought he saw a shadow move somewhere in front of him.
"Thought you could escape, old man?" A leery voice drawled. Stepping into a thin shaft of light, the shadow materialized into an ugly thug. All of a sudden, the old man was aware of men all around him. The thief and his comp were slowly inching their way around him and forming a circle. Whipping out his dagger, the old man brandished it fearfully in front of the thief's face knowing that this was one fight he was going to find difficulty getting out of. Before he could do any there was figure standing over one of the thief's bodies, which was now lying dead on the ground. This started an all out war and the old man and the stranger fought fiercely, plunging their daggers into their opponent's flesh and drawing at their blood.
Once the fight was over, the old man looked over at his saviour who's identity was still unknown for they were still cloaked in darkness. "I think we should leave this place now. The Tolnedran legions aren't very comfortable with dead bodies mysteriously cropping up, even if they were thieves." The figure nodded and both made they're was out of the alley. Out under the street light, the old man turned to look at the face of this mysterious aid. "Thank you-, he began but then he blinked. Alviara smiled pleasantly, her face still smeared with green glitter and was not joined by a thin slash of blood. She was still in her green acrobat clothing and had obviously just put on her black cloak and followed the man out.
"Not as soft as I look am I, old man?"
The man nodded, "I'm changing my opinion of you rapidly." Then he frowned, "Why did you follow me? Surely you did not have a premonition that I was going to need your aid." He asked.
Alviara smiled again and then looked at the old man carefully. "I'm not just another stupid Alorn, Belgarath . I can recognize legends when I see them." The old man blinked again.
"You’re one of the very few who do, I see. Well then, I'm not going to deny who I am but tell me, why are you looking for Polgara? Is it the Rivan king or something else?"
"Finding the heir to my country's throne is my duty, Belgarath, and I wish to fulfill it. Please, tell me where they hide." Belgarath looked at the girl in front of him. Only sixteen, he mused. "Some secrets are better kept my dear." Alviara nodded slowly as she watched him wave his hand as a way of farewell.
"My name is Alviara," she said in reply. Belgarath nodded and then turned and disappeared into the falling night. And as Alviara looked on at his disappearing back, her mind became even more determined to complete her quest for the Rivan heir.

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"Lost"
Alviara sank down into the large rug by the fire-place and soaked in the glorious warmth. "Ahhh" She said, stretching her arms out in front of her.
"It feels good to be back home." Opposite her, sitting on a large feather bed was Athawe, smiling as she ran her fingers through her baby boy Kydarel's silky hair. "And I've missed so much since I've been gone." Alviara sighed. "Your wedding to Khuldir," She said grinning at Athawe and then she reached to pick up the gurgling Khuried from his cradle.
Tickling his toes she watched his hazel eyes light up with laughter and then sighing again she said, "And the birth of these two little angels." Stroking Khuried's dark brown hair softly, she inhaled the wonderful pleasure of cradling and caring for something so small but overflowing with life.
Still only seventeen, she felt the first promise of motherhood beckoning her from the horizon but she smiled, knowing she had a long way to go before that would happen. "And I barely got back in time to catch Reidia before her departure" She finished softly; her heart still ached slightly at the loss of her dear Drasnian friend. Only the thought of her returning seemed to brighten that notion.
"But at least you're here now and it’s wonderful to have you back." Athawe broke in gently, her smile lighting up her already glowing face. Alviara could notice that the recent events had impacted her friend greatly. Suddenly her life was filled with all the happiness she needed, with a loving husband and two adorable children, Athawe seemed to have struck fulfilment.
But my only quest seems never ending, Alviara thought regretfully. The only way with which I will lie in peace perhaps will never be accomplished.
"Why so melancholy?" Athawe asked archly, watching her Rivan friend stare into the fire.
"Oh it's nothing" Alviara replied, running a finger against Khuried's pink cheek.
"Really, Alvi. You haven't been gone that long for me to forget the fact that I understand you completely. Now I know something's on your mind. So, tell me, what's wrong?" Athawe rose from the bed, lifting Kydarel deftly along with her and plonked herself down on the large rug, leaving Kydarel to frolic along with his brother. Alviara smiled sheepishly and then looked up at Athawe's defiant blue eyes.
"I met someone. While I was away." She sighed and then looked back into the flickering flames. "All my life I've been hunting for my king, to restore him to his rightful position. Not once did I think that maybe he didn't want to be found. That maybe it just wasn't the right time for him to emerge." Her green eyes clouded with confusion and suppressed uncertainty. Athawe looked concernedly at Alviara.
"This person you met. This person told you all this?" Alviara stopped playing with Kydarel's shirt sleeve and nodded slowly. The she looked up suddenly.
"It was Belgarath, Ath. I met him." Athawe sat transfixed; her face a painted with surprise and her eyes reflected her excitement and shock.

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"...and found"
"You met Belgarath? Ancient Belgarath? Holy Belgarath? Seven thousand year old sorcerer, first disciple to Aldur, father to Polgara, that Belgarath?" Athawe exclaimed. Alviara nodded, pushing her black hair behind her ears and set to fiddling with the amulet around her neck. "Alvi! This is phenomenal! I don't think anyone has ever come this close in the search for the Rivan king. You met Belgarath! The most powerful sorcerer in the world. Do you know what the means?"
"What does it mean? I don't know what it means. Oh Athawe, he told me there was a reason for what they were doing, he and Polgara. That the Rivan king had to remain where he was until it was time, and that I should give up this meaningless search." Her grip around the amulet tightened and somewhere in the distance, Athawe could hear thunder roll. She quickly reached out and pushed Alviara's hand away from the pale blue stone on the amulet.
"Don't vent your feelings through your powers, Alvi. Now, listen to me. You wanted to find the Rivan king not only for your country but for yourself as well. It was your ambition, your dream, to find your leader and realize him. Maybe Belgarath is right and that you should give up this futile search, for the path ahead is difficult and none that we know have succeeded, but, I believe that there is hope, that there is a reason for you to go out there and accomplish the one thing that you have been striving for. Live you dream, Alvi, allow yourself to realize it. Don't let it down or give up for if you do, happiness will never find you." The air felt heavy with the powerful words that Athawe had just uttered. Alviara sat silent for a moment and then her pretty face broke into a smile.
"Motherhood's making you preach isn't it?" She asked teasingly and then reached over to hug her friend. "Thank you." She whispered quietly and Athawe beamed back at her with an, "Anytime." Giggling, they both picked up a twin and returned to cooing at Khuried and rocking Kydarel to sleep.
A lost Adventurer had returned and had found that she had not misplaced any of the love and friendship she had with her friends. She had now found her way, her road to her fulfillment, and perhaps, her true happiness.

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Bridesmaids
Alviara frowned down at her unfinished letter. Tapping the quill thoughtfully on her chin, she reached out and dipped it in the pot of ink again, and continued her unfinished sentence.
"Alvi?" The sudden noise made Alviara's hand jerk, causing the ink to blot all over her words. She sighed, she would have to do the page again. She turned quickly in her chair to face the visitor at her door, and gasped in astonishment.
"Delionia? In, a wedding gown??"
Delionia smiled sheepishly. "Hi. Can I come in?"
"Sure." Alviara stood up and pulled the door open, revealing Delionia dressed in a beautiful gown of white, studded with seed pearls and crystals. Alviara frowned. "What’s going on?" Delionia sank onto the large bed and twisted her fingers nervously.
"It was really more like spur of the moment. I had the dress, and Rylas was there, and, well." She left the sentence hanging.
"Wait." Alviara said slowly. "Are you telling me you got married?" She exclaimed incredulously. "Married without me?" She fixed Delionia with her hardest stare.
Delionia nodded slowly, hesitantly, almost afraid of how hurt her best friend would be when she knew that Alviara had cherished the dream of being her bridesmaid.
"Oh Alvi, I'm sorry! You know I am. I never meant for it to happen this way." She said apologetically. Alviara blinked.
She stood frozen for what seemed like infinity before she moved towards her desk and opened her drawer, and lifted out a large white box tied shut with a blue satin ribbon.
She turned and placed it in Delionia's hands. Her green eyes betraying her disappointment but solemn acceptance of the happenings. "It's a bit too late now, but I collected these things anyway for you wedding. Take them, they're my wedding gift to you." She smiled and hugged Delionia warmly who returned the hug graciously. "Where's Rylas?"
"Downstairs, waiting. I came here to tell you what happened. We'll be leaving soon."
Alviara nodded, understanding. "How was it then? Your dream wedding?" Delionia let out a peal of laughter, her pale blue eyes glowing with happiness.
"Perfect." She proclaimed.
"Just out of curiosity, who was my replacement?" Alviara asked.
Delionia lets out another giddy giggle. "Czrel!"
And with that the two friends lapse into helpless laughter, strengthening even further their everlasting friendship.

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Returning to Riva
Alviara stood at the stern of the ship, watching the white waves beat against its sides. The turbulent sea churned and the Cherek ship seemed ready to give in to the relentless waves. Alviara sighed as the cold wind stung her cheeks whipping her hair around her. She turned around and walked to where the ship's Captain stood, ordering the crew to adjust the rigging and sails to meet the storm.
"Captain Melrak?" She said. The Captain stopped in mid-sentence and turned to her a little drunkenly. Alviara grimaced at his sour breath as he said,
"Yes, m'lady?"
"How longer to Riva? This storm seems to be delaying us every step of the way and my need there is urgent."
"Ah, m'lady, don't you worry about that. This ship can take anything. I would say three days to Riva at the least." A slight crease appeared on Alviara's forehead.
"And without the storm it would have taken us only another day and a half." She mumbled. Nodding at Captain Melrak, she walked back slowly, making her way to the stern again. She looked out, peering through the thick fog, trying to make out the Isle of Winds. She needed to get there, there wasn't any time to waste. If she was late... she shuddered at the thought. Her mind recalled the words of the letter from her brother Javed.

Alvi, it had said. We need you. Mother's health is failing, and I'm afraid it doesn't look very good. Her time may be near. Come soon.

The very thought filled Alviara's eyes with tears. No, she thought, I'm not going to let this happen. She looked down at the Amulet hanging around her neck. The usually blue stone studded at the tip of its arrow reflected the sullen grey of the stormy sky.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her palm around the stone and summoned her Will. Clear skies, she thought, Clear blue skies. She added a few wind-blown clouds to her image and willed the stone to reflect it. Opening her eyes, she smiled at the calm blue sea. The concave sky above her shone a sheer blue. Even the wind-blown clouds, she mused, her mind filling with the happiness. Hearing footsteps behind her she turned. A blast of fetid breath hit, her making her wince.
"Captain," she said.
"M'lady, it's miraculous. The storm has cleared." Then peering at her carefully he said, "Then it is true what I have heard, they say you can weave the winds, that you hold the eye of the storm." Alviara turned away and nodded slowly. She could never face such recognition.
"I want to reach Riva as soon as possible Captain. I will bear no delay." The ship surged forward, skimming through the Sea of Winds.

Alviara ran her hand through the lush green grass around her, as she sat perched on the cliff side. Taking a deep breath, she controlled her tears and watched the waves crash against the rocky shore of the Isle of Winds. A chilling wind blew past her, stinging her face and helplessly, she allowed her tears to slide down. Burying her face in her hands, she allowed herself to mourn and reflect, recalling the events of the past day...

"Alvi!" He had exclaimed when he had seen her, and rushed up to swing her in the air as always. Alviara looked down into his familiar green eyes and smiled wanly,
"Javed," she said simply. Her brother enveloped her in a warm hug, melting away her fears. Sniffing slightly, she let him lead her out of the docks and into the city. Along the way, he told her how their Mother was in critical condition. This winter had been more severe than the last, and living in the countryside, their family had little shelter from the continuous snow and hail.
"She's mostly sleeping the whole day, whenever she wakes up Lirial gives her soup and bread. The doctor advised some medicines but her illness has surpassed them. He says we should've brought her to him sooner," he sighed, "but we thought she was just sensitive to the winter and got colds more often than any of us. Little did we know it was so harmful to her lungs."
Alviara squeezed his arm reassuringly. "It isn't in our hands, Javed. Things will happen the way Belar wants them to." Then, frowning slightly she said, "Lirial? She's taking care of Mother?"
Javed blushed slightly and nodded. "We're engaged." He said softly. Alviara punched him on his shoulder.
"And don't inform your sister!" She squealed. Javed smiled slightly and said apologetically,
"We didn't want to announce anything until Mother was all right. You're the first one to know." Alviara nodded.
They made their way through the grey city of Riva without much more say. Both their minds filled with worry and concern for their mother's failing health. Alviara felt her heart ache for she felt the loss more, having been away for two years without visiting even once. How much she regretted that now. If only, she thought, if only I'd met her once before this and then her mind would trail off.
They walked out into the countryside, and into the sheep pastures. Her eyes lit up again as she watched the green meadows in which she had played along with her three brothers all her childhood. The path was crooked and rutted but Alviara hardly noticed, for her head was up in the air, looking at the blue Rivan sky merging with the sea in the distance. White woolly sheep dotted the green, and shepherds sat nearby, dozing under the scarce trees. Squinting, she looked closely at the young man sitting under the shade of a tree with a bright red cap perched on his head. A playful smile emerged on her lips as she cried out,
"Nasir!" and hiked up her blue dress and ran through the tall grass towards her second brother. Laughing they both embraced and he beamed at her shyly, looking her up and down.
"Welcome home, Alvi," He said quietly.

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The healing
Supported by her two brothers on either side, Alviara walked down the rutted path and approached the tiny wooden cottage nestled among a clump of trees, a place she would forever call home. A thin tendril of smoke curled up from it, drifting into the horizon. Taking a deep breath, she made her way through the small but neat garden, marked with rows of beans and carrots and looked at the familiar woodshed covered with creepers blooming red and pink roses.
She could hear the sound of someone chopping wood inside and smiled for she was sure it would be her eldest brother Brenan. The strongest and heftiest of them all, he was the quietest and most sensitive. She walked ahead and pushed open the door to the shed and saw that she was right. Brenan stood steadily, wielding his axe and splitting the wood into pieces.
As soon as he saw the door open, he stopped and looked up. A kind of glow overtook his face and he almost dropped the axe in surprise.
"Alvi?" He whispered. She smiled and nodded, rushing to meet her brother. "Look at you..." His words trailed off, and he cupped her face in his hands. Ruffling her hair, he smiled again and silently led her by her hand out of the shed and into the house.
Everything was just as she remembered it. The comfortable blue cushioned chairs, the centre table with a vase forever filled with her mother's favourite wildflowers, the fluttering curtains, even the necklace of purple beads she had made as a child still lay on the top of the old chestnut table. It was like she had walked into one of her memories.
"In here," Brenan said quietly, and opened the door to her Mother's room. Alviara nodded slightly, her heart in her mouth.
"I'm ready," she whispered.

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Failure
She looked frail and weak. Her face was gaunt and lined with the years of sickness and ill health evident. Alviara clasped her Mother's hand in her own and watched her sleep. Her eyes brimming with tears, she watched sorrowfully at how emaciated and helpless she had allowed her to become. Breathing deeply, she controlled her emotions and concentrated.
Drawing her Will, she focused on healing her mother's lungs. She could feel the burden of the illness make her stagger, the weight of it becoming overwhelming, but she overcame it steadily, pushing slowly and relentlessly against it and tried to cause the old wounds to heal. Alviara felt her strength draining, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and her muscles were straining but she did not give up. She tried to allow the power feed into her mother and give her the extra strength she needed, the strength to sustain herself, and perhaps recover completely.
She felt weak now, without any strength even to blink her eyes. Her hands had begun to shake. She knew she was drawing too much power, committing too much of her Will, if she didn't withdraw now, she could die herself. But her mind was too blank for these thoughts. Only a small part of her subconscious was actually aware of what she was performing and was sending alarm signals throughout her rapidly failing body for her to stop and save herself, but she ignored her minds messages and continued to heal her Mother.
She could feel the improvement. One of the lungs had almost been completely constricted but that was now opening and healing. The blood was flowing, thicker and stronger, and her heartbeat was accelerating. Suddenly, a hand pulled Alviara away. Her concentration broken, Alviara felt her Will slip away, and she swayed. She looked up to see a man. He was quite young, with eyes the colour of the sky.
"Stop," was the only word she heard him utter before she collapsed and became unconscious.

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Awakening
Alviara winced as she felt the sunlight on her face. Frowning, she squinted, wondering why in the name of Belar she would have left the windows open. She tried to get up, but surprisingly, she found it difficult to move. Pushing her eyes open, she looked at the ceiling and frowned slightly again. It was made of wood, with no touch of paint on it. Her room had a blue ceiling, where was she? Suddenly it all came crashing back to her.
Her time away in Camaar had made her used to her room at the Adventurers and the rooms that she took at inns on her various journeyings, and she had forgotten how the ceiling she had woken up to for so long used to look. Abashed, she craned her neck to peer out of the window. Painfully, she saw that it was the afternoon sun that was beating down on her.
It was still the same day. The same day when she had seen her sick mother and tried to heal her; the same day she had failed in that task. She flexed her fingers, trying to ease the pain from them but found it difficult. She had never lost so much energy in performing one task. But then again, she had never attempted something so dangerous.
Everlin had always said, "Death is something irreversible, perhaps the great sorcerers like Belgarath or Polgara could manage healing such a feat but even they shy from it in fear of the dangers it can bind them to." But her Mother had not been dead. Alviara thought, but sighing she accepted that she was not far from it. The wounds she had received had been old and had been uncared for, for many years and healing them now had been enormously energy consuming.
But, she had been so close, her mother's lung... a sudden wake of anger surged through her. Who was that man who had- but her thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the door. A slim blonde girl of about eighteen stepped in holding a tray. Alviara could smell the aroma of hot soup emanating from it and could hardly suppress the growl of hunger that her stomach was roaring.
She smiled wanly at Lirial, as she placed the bowl and the tray on the table nearby and looked at Alviara carefully. Her pretty features were marred by her worry and concern.
"What you did-," she began, but Alviara didn't let her finish.
"How is she?" She asked instead. Lirial sighed and then clasped Alviara's hand. "She's awake now," but then hesitatingly continued, "Everlin is here, he says she doesn't have much time."
The pushing the bowl towards her, she said. "Get some strength and then you can go meet her." But Alviara was already out of the door.

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The goodbye
Ignoring the pain that was shooting through her body, Alviara hobbled her way out of her room and into her Mother's. She stopped short at the doorway, and looked at every single member of her family and even their closest friends standing, crowded around the bed and smiling silently at her Mother. Her father was clutching her Mother's hand and sat next to her bed, tears streaming down his face. Brenan was at the foot of the bed, with his arm around his wife, Myra, and flanked by her two other brothers Javed and Nasir behind him.
Standing by the window was a wizened old man, his white hair cropped short and disheveled by the wind. His face was surprisingly clean-shaven and Alviara smiled slightly, remembering the effort it had taken to convince him of that. His crystal blue eyes crinkled into a smile on seeing her and she whispered, "Everlin." He had his arm around Brenan and Myra's son, Evann, a tiny dark haired boy of three who had inherited the green eyes of the family.
"Alviara." She heard a soft voice call out to her. A voice she had she had connected to every memory, a voice who had guided her in the dark, a voice whose soft lullaby she had always fallen asleep to.
"Mother," she replied, heartbrokenly. She walked over to the bed and knelt down beside her father. Her mother smiled brightly at her, her beauty dimmed pale by her ill health.
Running her fingers through her hair, she said,
"It's been so long since I've seen you, my Alvi."
Alviara wished she could weep and cry out all her pain but somehow she could not make the tears flow. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm so sorry I didn't visit for so long."
"Oh but you gave me more than that. You gave me this. A chance to say goodbye."
"No, I won't let you go."
Her Mother sighed. "It's the way of life, and we all have to accept it, even a stubborn one like you." Alviara felt her eyes filling now. "Here, I have something for you." Her Mother pointed toward a box that lay on a table by the window. Alviara fetched it and handed it to her. Her mother opened it carefully and from the tissues within, she lifted out a thin silver ring and handed it to Alviara. "For my only daughter," she said and smiled. Alviara took the ring and looked at it in wonder. It had tiny blue dolphins and waves carved all around it and set in some glittering stone.
"Its beautiful," she breathed. "Thank you." And she leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I love you," they both whispered.
"And now it is complete, now I can rest." Mother said, her eyes closing quietly and her breathing becoming slower and deeper.
"I think we should leave," Everlin said in his soft but firm voice. "We should leave her to sleep." The family filed out, and Alviara noticed that each of them had something different they were clutching, much like her own ring, and all of them had the same look of loss and unhappiness, much like her own.

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The teacher
"Are you all right?"
Alviara looked up and squinted. "You always had the tendency to ask the most meaningless questions."
"And you haven't changed one bit." Everlin laughed. "How is my best pupil faring in the world?"
"Not bad. Then again, you did teach me well."
"Oh no, you were the cleverest of them all."
"I am forced to agree with you on that one." Alviara replied wryly. Everlin laughed again. "And the one with the quickest tongue. No one could match you in the battle of words." Then with a more serious expression he sat down beside her. "But my teaching seems to have had no effect on you. What you did in there was mindless and senseless. You tried to bring about something that you did not have enough power for."
"I remember every lesson, Master. But I was desperate. That is my mother in there, she needed me and I would not let her down."
Everlin looked at her curiously. "You called me Master. Only the second time in your life you've ever done that." He noted.
"Back to stating the obvious are we?" Alviara said dryly, but her heart actually lifting. Seeing Everlin after these years had been a good surprise. She had missed her teacher; his guidance had been something she had come to rely upon, though she would never admit that to him.
He had been the one who had taught her everything. When she had first discovered she was a sorceress, she had been placed under his care. Wild and wilful, she had never listened to anything he had said, questioning everything he taught and being the most uncontrollable student he had ever managed. But the heart is mysterious, and she had always been his favourite.
"Everlin," she said.
"Yes?" He answered, looking up from the floorboard he was staring at. "There was this man who stopped me-," but she couldn't complete her sentence when her father trudged in, endless sorrow painted on his face. He looked up with mournful eyes and said with a distinct note of finality,
"She's gone."

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The stranger
Alviara sighed as she stopped the memories of the day from washing over her again. Angrily she pulled out a tuft of grass from the cliff atop which she was perched and loosened it out into the breeze, watching the helpless blades of grass float down and be carried away by the wind. She buried her face in her hands again, weeping out her soul. Nothing seemed worthwhile anymore; her life seemed empty and meaningless.
She stood up and stumbled her way down the slope and onto the beach. Burrowing her feet into the sand, she watched the innocent waves lap onto them and then ebb away. Out in the distance, she could see the grey Citadel of Riva, looming great and ominously, sending an unspoken threat to anyone who wished to harm the throne of the King of Riva. It came to her in a flash...this was where she had stood on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, and realized that she wanted to leave this rock in the middle of the sea and go find the true heir to the throne.
A sudden rage overcame her again and she let out a scream, one reflecting her inner ache and anger.
"What's wrong?" Asked a voice behind her.
"It's this place!" She burst out. "Everything went wrong right here, everything. I made this silly decision that I was old enough to go out there alone and leave my family here without me. If I had been here things might have been different. I might have learnt more from Everlin, I might have been more learned at what I was trying today, I might have been stronger..." She trailed off, her voice cracking with emotion and throbbing with tears. "My mother," she whispered, "Might have still been alive."
She felt an arm encircle her, and she pressed her forehead against the strong chest, sobbing. Sniffing, she looked up and into the same eyes she had seen before. The cool, clear blue of the sky.
"Wh-who are you?" She stammered.

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Naevin
Alviara pushed herself away, her question still hanging in the air. "Who are you?" She repeated more firmly. Her eyes locked with his turquoise ones, and she felt drawn to them, ready to drown in their blue, but shaking herself, she narrowed her eyes and looked at him closely.
"You're the one who distracted me!" She exclaimed, her voice drawn and tired, etched with pain and frustration. "If it wasn't for you," She took a deep breath, "If it wasn't for you she might have been alive!"
"And you would have definitely been dead." He said quietly, "Alviara, stop blaming yourself for something that isn't your fault."
"I failed," she shot back, "I think I can be blamed for failing."
"No you can't, because what you were trying was impossible. I'm sorry, but you Mother wouldn't have survived."
"How can we ever know now? I never got to finish, thanks to you!" Alviara felt her entire body tremble, a mixture of rage and grief.
The mysterious man reached over and took hold of both of her arms. "Listen," he began. "Let me go!" Alviara yelled, fighting to push him away and free herself from his grip. "Leave me alone. I don't need anything from you or from anyone else." Tears were welling up in her eyes again. But he was stronger than her, and held her close, trying to calm her by rubbing his hand gently through her dark hair. Alviara surrendered, crying against his chest again.
"Who are you?" She asked for the third time. He smiled slightly and whispered.
"Naevin."

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Recognition
Alviara blinked.
"Naevin?" She whispered.
He nodded slowly, breathing softly into her hair.
She looked up, her eyes pools of surprise.
"Naevin...Everlin..." She mumbled.
He smiled again. "Yeah, Everlin's son Naevin."
She squinted. "You have his eyes." She said drowsily.
Naevin looked at her carefully. "I think you should sit down." He said and settled her down on the sand. Alviara lifted her hand to her head and kneaded it on the temple with her knuckle. "Somehow it feels like I have a hundred Morind demons inside there," she
laughed weakly, "clawing out my brains." She looked at him again. "Wait...you used to be-"
"Chubby?"
She pursed her lips and smiled slightly. "Well, fat was actually the word I was looking for."
He sighed. "I was ten then." He reminded her.
"Yeah. You left then didn't you. You didn't ever want to become like your father."
"Sorcery wasn't for me. I became a ranger instead," He said with a note of pride in his voice. "I returned home about half a year back." He looked at the waves crashing on the shore. "Nothing here has changed at all.”
"Well," He looked at her again. "Except that you were gone." Alviara smiled, but with difficulty. Her body was feeling tired and worn. Her eyes were heavy-lidded and kept fluttering. "I think its time you had some sleep. You haven't still recovered from the strain you had to go through earlier today and all the events have been emotionally draining." Naevin said brusquely.
"Hmm..." was all she said in reply, her eyes already half closed, she felt herself lean against his shoulder and fall into a deep sleep.

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The funeral
The funeral took place the next day. Alviara awoke with all her muscles and joints aching like they hadn't been used in weeks. Lirial had left a bowl of soup for her beside her bed along with a chunk of bread and cheese which she greedily ate paying no notice to the effort it took to move her hands. Good choice Javed, she silently thought while munching. Lirial would definitely prove to be a good home maker. Sadly she realized that the soup was almost as good as her Mother's. Almost.
Alviara's Mother, Aurelia had wished to be buried by the beach, for according to her that was where her life had begun. She had lived by it as a child and most of her happiest memories were spent playing by the shore. She had met Karl, Alviara's father there, and at that same spot he had proposed to her and they had even gotten married there. So now, abiding by her wishes, the entire family dressed in stark black, crowded around her coffin, and lowered her into the earth, a place where she could rest and forever be at peace.
Alviara laid a tiny pink rose by her mother's hand, smiling for the last time at her serene and beautiful face and bade a final farewell. Just as the earth was being piled over, rain drops started falling and came splashing down. The water spread quickly, washing away everything in its flood, but the family still stood and watched Belar's tears pouring down and consoling them in their grief.

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Letters home
A week passed by slowly. The house was silent and empty, in spite of being filled with five people and three frequent visitors. But slowly, life started to pulsate within it again. Javed had wanted to wait longer before announcing his engagement to Lirial, but Everlin, who was the second person to find out, decided that the family could use something to be cheerful about. And so one day at dinner, he had stood up and raised his wine glass, and announced their happy union. The family was delighted and Alviara was especially cheerful for she had seen her father smile for the first time since his wife's death.
"Can I come in?"
Alviara looked up from the letter she was writing and smiled at Naevin. "Sure," she replied, placing her quill back into the blue ink pot. "What’s up?"
"Nothing actually. I just thought I'd pop in for a chat. What're you doing?"
Alviara sighed. "Writing letters. I hate doing this actually, I think it's very tedious but I guess I'm writing to friends so it's not that bad. This one," She picked up a white parchment with neat blue writing on it, "Is to Wylset. He's the Lord of the clan I belong to, the Adventurers? I told you about them didn't I? I needed to tell him I'd be away for a little while."
"And those?" Naevin asked, gesturing towards the letters which were piled haphazardly on the corner of the table.
"Oh, those are to all my other friends. They wrote asking how everything was...quite a lot of them aren't there. But I think I've covered them all." She started ticking the names off her fingers, "Delionia, Athawe, Czrel, Reidia and Khuldir." Naevin looked at her and squinted slightly. "What?" She asked in response. "Nothing," he said shaking his head. Then he looked up again.
"Do you want to go to the city?"
Alviara smiled delightedly. "Finally!" She exclaimed. "Neither Javed not Nasir nor Brenan were ready to take me. Too much work, Alvi," she imitated them, "I'll get my cloak, we need to buy a few things for the house anyway." She rose instantly and went to fetch her cloak. Naevin stood up and followed her out, closing the door behind him.

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Shopping
"I think this was a mistake," Naevin muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Asked Alviara, admiring a necklace of tiny sea blue beads.
"Oh nothing," He said hurriedly, smiling at her innocently. But she was scarcely paying him any attention, and instead walked on ahead to the next display of silver pendants in the jewelry story. Naevin sighed and followed behind her.
They had walked through the fields and entered the city of Riva, and were now engaged in Alviara's never ending shopping. Somehow, no matter how simply she usually dressed, Naevin realised that Alviara was not just a country girl, fulfilled with daisy chains and wildflowers but instead had a taste for silks and satins and sapphires. There seemed to be a special glow on her face that he hadn't seen in so many days since her mother's death. Previously, she was hesitant to laugh aloud but now she was positively beaming.
"Ooh," Alviara exclaimed. "Look at this one." She lifted a silver pendant set with a stone that was coloured with ever-changing hues of purple. "Delionia would love this one." She said, and then handing it to the shopkeeper, asked him to pack it.
Naevin looked at her closely. Her green eyes seemed to sparkle and flash now, alive with excitement. Her dark black hair forever falling over her fair face, causing her to tuck it behind her ears. Her easy laugh, sounded like a gentle bell, causing him to smile when he heard it. Noticing him looking at her, Alviara looked up at him and raised her eyebrow, "And what are you staring at, young man?" Naevin shook his head and looked away. And her sharp tongue, he thought. He couldn't forget that.
Alviara picked up her package and paid the shopkeeper his price. Happily, she walked out and spotted a dressmaker's boutique next door. "Why don't you go for a walk?" she said to Naevin. "I need to pay a visit to the dressmaker over there." Naevin nodded, inwardly wondering why in the name of Belar he had agreed to come here with her, but there was something about her that made her different, that set her apart, that made his feel helpless when she looked at him or spoke to him. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he started walking down the street. Alviara was already inside, talking to Kaeli, the dressmaker.

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Dressing up
Alviara ran her hand slowly over the different coloured fabrics. "I'd take the green if I were you," Kaeli, the dressmaker said from behind her. "It'll bring out the emerald in your eyes." Alviara smiled and nodded and picked out a swath of cloth that matched her eyes. Kaeli motioned her to stand in front of the mirror and fetched her measuring tape. The seamstress was plump and blonde, the figure of a typical Alorn woman. Her blond hair was woven into tiny neat braids and tied into a tidy bun perched upon the top of her head. She had a warm glowing smile on her face that made her exude a certain show of Motherly love.
Measuring Alviara's thin waist, she asked, "So who is he?"
Alviara blinked. "Who's who?" she answered, confused.
Kaeli smiled mysteriously. "The young man who's with you. I'm sure he's not your brother for he has blond hair and blue eyes and well," she motioned to Alviara's face, "you don't." Alviara laughed.
"Well yes, he's not my brother, I already have enough of those, but he's just a friend." Funnily, Alviara felt strange saying those words.
"Just a friend you say?" Kaeli probed again. "I don't think so, my dear. I can smell an attraction a mile away."
Alviara smiled, laughing it off, but she felt a funny feeling rise in her stomach. Kaeli hung the tape around her neck and surveyed Alviara carefully. "I think I already have the perfect dress for you. I stitched out one of my designs to display but I think you can definitely squeeze into it. Plus," she smiled mischievously, "It'll definitely make your 'friend' out there re-insert his eyes into his sockets." To her surprise, Alviara felt herself blush and she quickly averted her gaze.
Kaeli hurried into an adjoining room and returned with her arms loaded with a sea green silk dress. Piling it into Alviara's arms she pushed her into the dressing room and shut the door firmly. In all her life, Alviara had always been more like a boy when it came to clothes. She had always chosen loose and ill-fitting dresses in which she could run and move about easily in. It was the obvious outcome of having no sisters and only three brothers to play with. Even making new friends hadn't changed her sloppy sense of dressing for she had never felt the need to impress anyone or even look beautiful. But suddenly now she felt the urge.
Pulling the dress over her head, she straightened it out and looked at herself in the mirror hung before her. The dress was a brilliant green that made her eyes stand out more than before. She could practically see the gold flecks in them. The silk felt cool and light, and made her seem slimmer and more agile than the bulky dresses she always wore. Adjusting the very short beaded sleeves, she brushed her hands against the tiny crystals that studded the sea green dress. Smiling at her new beautiful self, she stepped out twirled for Kaeli.
Just then the shop door swung open and Naevin entered. "It's been quite a while Alvi, I was wondering if you were..." He began but stopped in mid-sentence when he saw her. "Wow." He whispered.
"What do you think?" She asked softly. Naevin blinked, as if he hadn't heard and then slowly let himself out of the shop, the bemused expression never leaving his face.
"Told you it'd leave him blinded," Kaeli announced triumphantly.

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The fields
The sun was setting as Alviara and Naevin walked slowly back from the city. Its red rays casting long slanting shadows on the road and filtering through the branches of the trees drawing pretty patterns of sun and shade. The pair walked silently on, heaped high with Alviara's purchases. The silence was strange, for whenever Alviara had been in Naevin's company he had kept the conversation constant and so today, his quiet composure seemed unbecoming.
She watched him from the corner of her eye, his sandy hair shining red gold in the sunlight. "What are you thinking?" She finally volunteered. He looked at her, almost broken from his trance and then smiled. "Let's go into the fields." He said simply and then shifted a few packets and reached for her hand. Alviara laughed and took his hand in hers and followed him as he led her into the golden field. The concave sky above, lit up with the golden sheen of the sun seemed to mirror the ripe wheat that was spread out all about them. Everywhere Alviara looked, she could see a heavenly glow.
She watched in surprise as Naevin dropped his packages nearby and started tearing through the crop, the wind rustling his hair. Tempted, she did the same and raced after him, laughter erupting from her mouth. They ran for a while, Naevin chasing her, but she proving too fast to catch. Tired, they sank down, the golden wheat fanning about them. Panting, Alviara breathed deep to catch her breath but her face was lit up with a beaming smile that was mirrored on Naevin's face.
"That was fun," she declared. "I haven't done that since I was eight." Naevin nodded, watching her, his expression undecipherable. "What?" She questioned.
"Nothing," he replied, but didn't stop. Slowly he reached out and pulled a stray golden leaf from her hair. Alviara felt herself shiver slightly, her eyes locked in his. "Alviara." He whispered.
Suddenly, Alviara felt something wet on her nose. She blinked, breaking the moment and felt drops of water falling from above.She looked up at the sky, and saw grey clouds hovering over them, pelting them with rain drops. She laughed in delight and stood up, twirling herself about in the rain. Naevin smiled at her and rose, "I think its time we went home." Alviara frowned.
"But the rain's just started!"
"Yes, but you don't want your precious shopping to get wet do you?"
Alviara gasped and then sighed. "I totally forgot about them." Then she smiled mischievously. "Race you till there?"
"You're on!" He shouted already sprinting his way through the field.
"Hey! No fair! Head start!" She yelled, running after him, the cool rain pouring from above drenching her all the way.

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Almost sisters
Alviara ran the comb gently through her nephew Evann's dark brown hair. Seated on her lap, he was continuously fidgeting, but she felt a certain sense of completion with him in her arms. Just as she had before when she had held Athawe's twins, Khuried and Kydarel, Belar bless their poor souls. She felt the strange call of motherhood. Thinking this felt insane to her and she burst out laughing imagining her surrounded by three little babies. But she could not drown out the sense of pleasure she felt as she viewed the image. She sighed contentedly, her time would come. But something about the image disturbed her again. Standing beside her was a stranger, the father of the children. No, he was not a stranger and he had those curious sky-blue eyes.
"Aunt Alvi?" Evann's quiet words broke her from her thoughts. "Can I go play now?" Alviara smiled at him, and giving him a last hug and pat on his head, nodded.
"Don't mess your hair," she said with no use for as soon as he was out the door, the wind had already ruffled it out of place. Shaking her head slightly, Alviara laughed again and rose from her bed and made her way to the kitchen. Her sister-in-law, Brenan's wife, Myra was there, stirring a large pot of soup with a ladle. Alviara sniffed the air, taking in the heavenly smell of tomato soup. Lirial was by the sink chopping onions, her eyes watering from the pungent vegetable. "What can I do to help?" she asked.
"Be a dear and slice some of that bread for me, Alvi?" Myra said briskly.
Alviara nodded and picked up a knife and joint Lirial by the chopping board. She looked at the blond girl who was working silently and smiled that she was going to become an official part of their family. Lirial's parents had died when she was a child, leaving her in the care of her aunt. Together, the aunt and niece had set up and run a bakery here successfully and Lirial had become one of Alviara's playmates though she, Alvi, much preferred playing with her brothers. But misery had not left Lirial's tail, for when she was seventeen, her aunt fell sick and passed away, but miraculously, the girl had proven adept and kept the bakery alive and running.
And then with Javed's help, she was able to free herself of many of its burdens and hire help. Javed became a regular there, supporting her in every way, and perhaps it was then that they fell in love. Alviara smiled, it had been six years since then, and Javed had wanted to wait until he was able to stand on his own feet. And now succeeding the only wool merchant in the area he was able to accomplish this. She ran the knife neatly through the dark bread, cutting thick square slices, while Lirial emptied the chopped onions with a sizzle into a heated dish of melted butter and stirred it.
"Alviara, I've been meaning to ask you something." Lirial said softly, adding some spices. Alviara looked at her meaningfully. "All my life I've never had any real family for very long, and this place is the only thing that has been stable and well...permanent." Alviara nodded, understanding.
"You've become dear to us too, Lirial. We were more than happy to hear of the engagement." Alviara said. Lirial smiled.
"I've never really had any other close friends other than all of you. And you know the wedding is to take place in two weeks. That's why I wanted to ask you if you would be my bridesmaid. I've known you since I was a child and you're the only thing that ever came close to being my sister, and I know that we're very different, more like poles apart, but I would be happy if you agreed." Alviara felt her eyes becoming moist. Dropping the knife, she reached out and hugged Lirial.
"I'd love to." She whispered.

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An almost kiss
The preparations for the wedding of Javed and Lirial were in full blow. Alviara took Lirial to Kaeli, the dressmaker, whom she had taken a liking to, and with their help Kaeli was able to design for the wedding a beautiful white flowing gown with a hint of pearls and crystals. The wedding was to take place in a Church near their home and after that all the guests were invited to a celebration dinner at "The Silver Spoon", one of the finest places to eat in the countryside.
Alviara stepped through the doorway of the Church, her footsteps echoing across its vaulted ceiling. "Awfully quiet, isn't it?" Naevin whispered. Alviara nodded absentmindedly, her eyes watching the beautiful golden spires, the vivid colours of the
stained glass windows and the flickering candles. Everything seemed ethereal and romantic. She sighed. "What's wrong?" Naevin questioned.
"Hm...Nothing." she replied.
They were here to talk to the priest and inform him of the wedding, asking him if he was willing to conduct it. Alviara was more than happy to be given this job for the atmosphere at home was hectic. All she heard everywhere was talk about pink roses and center pieces and champagne and china. It was driving her mad. Naevin's volunteering to join her had been a pleasant surprise, she had hardly seen him much among all the wedding planning and to her amazement felt that she missed having him around. The talk with the priest hardly took any time and while they were heading out Naevin said, "Do you want to sit down? We don't have to rush back in there so soon."
Alviara smiled guiltily. "They can handle themselves for a few more minutes can't they?"
Naevin laughed. "Sure, they can."
They sat down on the benches at the back, and stared at the statues of Belar around them. Alviara was unusually silent, not a disturbed or depressed silence but a silence that she was holding without even noticing. "OK, what is it." Naevin said abruptly.
"What's what?" She answered.
"Why are you like this? I've never seen you like this. What's bothering you?" He looked at her closely. She laughed quietly.
"Nothing really. It's just...this place."
"This place?"
"Yeah," she continued. "Reminds me of how much I want to do this myself."
"Do what?"
"You know, walk down the aisle, get married, have babies, the whole thing. It's pretty silly actually, I'm only twenty, I'm too young for that."
She shook her head, causing a lock of hair to dislodge from behind her ear and fall in front of her eyes. Naevin gently pushed the strands of hair away and pushed them into their position. His fingers lingering at her face, he slowly traced her jaw and lifted her chin. "You're beautiful, you know." He said simply. She blushed but didn't avert his gaze. His eyes locked in hers, he moved closer, slowly, wanting to kiss her. She moved too, but blinked suddenly, as if awaking from a dream. "We shouldn't do this here." She said softly, and then rose and swished out of the doorway.
"Damn you, Belar. We had to be in your Church, didn't we?" Naevin muttered following her out.

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The wedding
"Look at how handsome you look," Alviara beamed, adjusting the little black bow tie around her nephew, Evann's, neck.
"You look very nice too, Aunt Alvi," Evann said sweetly. Alviara laughed.
"Thank you," she said, and then looked critically in the mirror, "I only wish Lirial hadn't chosen pink for the bridesmaid's dress." She fingered the baby pink dress thoughtfully and then continued, "Well, run along then, go to Daddy, I need to go help Lirial."
The weeks had flown past, and the day of the wedding had finally arrived. Everything seemed to be in perfect place, Alviara's father was giving Lirial away and Brenan and Nasir were both Javed's best men for he couldn't pick between them. Little Evann was to be the ring bearer. The entire chapel was decorated with bowers of pink and white roses and baby's breath. Candles were lighting every corner, the guests had already arrived and were seated, talking silently amongst themselves.
Alviara walked quickly from one room in the Chapel to the other, which the priests had graciously given them. She smiled at Lirial's nervous face and tried to calm her worries as best as she could while fixing her white veil. "You look... breathtaking," She whispered, trying to find the perfect word. Lirial smiled and nodded. Myra entered in swiftly.
"It's time." She said simply. Lirial took a deep breath and rose. Alviara handed her, her bouquet of white roses and picked up her own pink one. She hugged Lirial and then left, allowing the wedding to finally begin.

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An unexpected visitor
"More champagne for everyone!" Brenan boomed loudly. "And don't worry men, the ale's on its way." He grinned. Myra rolled her eyes.
"Alorn men," she muttered comically. Alviara giggled, lifting up her champagne flute as Brenan rose to propose a toast. Naevin flashed her a smile and did the same.
"To my little brother Javed, and his new wife Lirial. Happy married life!" Brenan laughed. Numerous hands lifted in unison and the glasses tilted drinking in the sparkling champagne. "Well, dig in!"
The conversation began almost at once. People reached over, piling their plates high with the delicious food from the Silver Spoon kitchen. "It went off pretty well, don't you think?" Naevin said, leaning in while watching Lirial and Javed beam at each other.
"I'd say more than just pretty well." Alviara said smiling. The wedding had been beautiful, almost like a dream. Alviara smiled again and toyed with her fork, unknowingly mashing the mashed potatoes even more. Her mind was uncomfortably aware of Naevin's presence in front of her and somehow that made her more conscious than she had ever felt before.
She reddened slightly when she remembered their almost kiss in the Chapel, something she had found very hard to forget. Her heart seemed to flutter unnaturally every single time he looked at her, and the tips of her ears seemed a permanent shade of red every time he said something. She found these feelings unreal, disturbing... but at the same time pleasant and she looked forward to meeting him, or even catching a glimpse of him. They hadn't had a chance to speak after the little thing in the Chapel, it had remained untouched and unspoken about. Her curiosity was eating her away inside, she wanted to know if what she was feeling was in fact, love, and if it was, did he feel the same?
She sneaked a silent peek at him, his blue eyes twinkling as he laughed with Nasir, and her stomach flip-flopped again. A waitress arrived, and placed a slender glass in front of her, filled with a light pink drink. "Your Strawberry Surprise, ma'am."
She said. Alviara looked at her confused, "I'm sorry, but I didn't ask for this." She could feel Naevin watching her now. The waitress smiled and nodded, "The gentleman over there thought you might like it and asked me to send it over," she explained.
"Which gentleman?" Alviara questioned curiously. "That one, ma'am." Alviara followed her gaze and blinked. Familiar eyes met her own and she smiled.

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Khuldir
Alviara reached over and picked up the glass and took a sip. Delicious, her mind thought, he always knew strawberries were my favourite. "Like it?" A voice behind her asked. She looked up in surprise and then laughed. "You move fast," she commented. Turning around in her chair she looked at the stranger full in the face. A tall well built Drasnian stood before her, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he crinkled them to smile at her.
She rose up from her seat, "Hi, it's been so-," she began, but he cut her off and lifted her up and swung her in the air. "Long," she finished, breathlessly when he had set her down again.
He laughed, his eyes gleaming, "Nice surprise?" he asked her.
"A very nice one," she replied. "I got your letter, and I had some business in Riva so I thought I'd swing by at the wedding and amaze you. And even if that didn't happen, there was always the free food to keep me going," He grinned. Alviara rolled her eyes.
"Well you did amaze me. Oh, meet my family," She turned around and motioned their attention unnecessarily, for all their eyes were on her and her unexpected friend.
Alviara could especially feel Naevin's gaze on her. For an instant her eyes met his and she could see something in them that she didn't recognize. His face was bearing an unusual expression, as if he did not especially like this sudden intrusion this stranger had caused and the relationship between him and Alviara. Alviara blinked, Fool, she thought, now why would he possibly think that? You and your imagination.
"Well, this is my Dad, that's my eldest brother Brenan and his wife Myra. The little boy is their son Evann. The dear old man is my teacher Everlin, next to him is the married couple, I'm sure you know who they are. This is my third brother Nasir and Everlin's son Naevin." They all nodded their heads in acknowledgement and smiled.
"Everyone, this is my friend Khuldir."

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A dance
Alviara twirled gracefully back into Khuldir's outstretched arm and laughed. He flashed a brilliant smile back at her, moving to beat of the music. Alviara felt the baby pink dress fan softly around her as danced with Khuldir after the wedding dinner was over. A special band of Arends had offered to play at the after wedding party, and the music had made Alviara feel light and giddy, or perhaps that was the wine. Practically everyone was on the dance floor. Alviara could see the bright flashes of colour surrounding her, the glitter and whirl of beads and lace, the smiles and laughs that seemed to brighten the entire atmosphere.
Alviara looked over at the flash of white that caught her eye. Lirial, a glow lighting her face, dancing contentedly in Javed's arms. Alviara looked over with curiosity. What she saw in their eyes was definitely love, she thought. The way their eyes locked into each others, and they held it unwaveringly, not defiantly but adoringly. Alviara felt a sudden surge of envy. I wish I had that, she thought. Someone who I can lay my soul bare to, someone who will love every fibre of me for who I am. Her eyes involuntarily went in search for Naevin's face. And she found him, sitting at the table, fiddling with an empty wine glass and looking around with a bored expression. Can he love me?
As if in answer to her question he looked her way. His clear blue eyes which usually made her knees go slightly weak were fixed on hers, locking her gaze.
"Alvi?" Khuldir shouted above the music.
Alviara broke away, "Yeah?" She looked at Khuldir impassively, but slightly irritated at her friend for his unknown intrusion.
"Dance?" He said, laughing, and Alviara realized that unknowingly she had stopped dancing and was standing still in the middle of the crowded dance floor. Alviara blushed, and embarrassedly started moving but without much enthusiasm. She peered through the crowd to catch a glimpse of Naevin again, but frowned when she saw his empty chair.
"Mind if I cut in?" She heard a familiar voice ask from behind her. Khuldir laughed.
"Sure, go ahead." And he moved away, grabbing the hand of another pretty girl in a blue dress and twirling her around. Alviara stood still again and turned around slowly. Those blue eyes looked back at her again. Clear and cool, like pools of frozen ice, or glittering sapphires, or the spring sky, or turquoise seas, or...
"Alviara." He broke in, his voice over ridding her fevered thought. "Care to dance?" She didn't know how she managed to smile without looking overly eager or excited, and she didn't know how she was able to place her arm on his shoulder without betraying its nervous shake. All she knew was this was where she wanted to be.

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A little bit of fun
The sunshine filtered through the white lace curtains adorning Alviara's large window, dappling on the blue sheets covering her bed and finally warming her peaceful face beneath them. Alviara's dark hair laid spread out like a fan on her white pillow, a gentle smile touching her lips. Her pale white arm was hanging from under her blanket, clutching what seemed to be a ring. It seemed like she was having pleasant dreams of what had happened the night before...
"The winter seems to be on its way," Alviara said bitingly, her voice wavering slightly as a cold breeze brushed past them. She clutched her arms and rubbed them, trying to induce some warmth. For the fifty-second time she cursed Lirial for having picked such a flimsy dress for the bridesmaid. Naevin looked at her, his eyes laughing. "Oh yeah, go ahead and laugh. Javed didn't dress you in a towel." She grumbled.
"Stop complaining," He grinned. "Once you see what I have to show you, you'll forget all about the cold. Come on." He grabbed her hand and led her on faster.
Alviara felt delightful shivers running through her. He's making you delirious, her mind thought. They had stolen away from the party after the dance. It had been Naevin's idea, he said he had something to show her. He had led her away from the restaurant, and out into the countryside, taking her past most of the fields and into an area where it was slightly forested.
"Naevin? Are we lost?" She asked again and again but he always ignored that question. Now they stood at the edge of a rocky slope. Alviara could see a faint trail making its way down the side. She looked at Naevin questioningly.
"I think you should take those off," Naevin said, pointing to her white stilettos.
"All I needed was someone to say that!" Alviara exclaimed with relief, reaching down immediately and loosening the straps. Flexing her now relaxed feet, she said, "OK, do we go down this slope?" He nodded and then frowned.
"Maybe..." He trailed off. "What?" She asked, looking at him. A mischievous smile spread slowly on his face and he turned to her. Without any warning, he lifted her off her feet and began carrying her in his arms. Alviara let out a slight squeal of surprise.
"What do you think you're-," She said hotly, but he ignored her and started walking down the steep path.
Alviara could feel his breath on her neck and it made her ears start going pink. She could see his eyes more clearly now, his golden eye lashes, the small mole near his mouth. He smelt of spices and the sea. Of salt and spray, of the beach and the sand and rain washed earth, all the smells that sent her tingling. So involved in studying him was she that she didn't notice that he had stopped.
"We're here," he said simply. She looked up and her breath caught in her throat.

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Bliss
A crystal waterfall cascaded into a clear pool, edged with deep green moss and flowering plants. Brightly coloured fish could be seen, flapping their tails, swimming joyously in the cool water. The moonlight seemed to sparkle on the water, giving it a silvery sheen as it reflected the translucent disc. Alviara gasped in surprise. She had never seen anything so beautiful. Naevin slowly let her down from his arms and allowed her to stand, drinking in the view in awe. A cool wind was blowing, making Alviara's dress billow around her and splashing her with the cool spray of the water. The delightful murmur of the leaves as the wind flowed through them seemed like music to her ears.
Silently Naevin led her to a mossy rock by the stream and they both sat down.
"It's beautiful." Alviara whispered.
Naevin smiled. "I found it when I was a child. I used to come here whenever I was upset or confused or just bored. It's the first time I've come here since I returned to Riva." Alviara looked at him, the moonlight leeching away the colour from the surroundings, making everything stark, black and white. They held the silence for a while, not uncomfortably, but knowing that they didn't need unnecessary conversation to keep the other interested.
"I've," Naevin cleared his throat. "I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Sure."
"Who's Khuldir?"
Alviara looked at him curiously, the strange expression was in his eyes again.
"Well I was traveling once to Boktor, it was one of those tasks that I had to perform for the Adventurers. I was quite lost when I reached and by chance I met him. He's a merchant, and he knows the Drasnian capital like the back of his hand, so he showed me around and on the way we became friends."
"Friends?" Naevin asked unsure.
Alviara laughed. "Yes, friends. Why? Does that notion seem somehow repulsive?"
Now it was Naevin's turn to laugh. But then his expression slowly became serious.
"There was something else that I have been longing to do."
"And what's that?"
"This."
And he reached over and kissed her.

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Love
The wind blew again, sending chills up and down Alviara's spine. Her lips were tingling, and she smiled in delight inwardly, her soul rejoicing at what had just happened.
"Here," Naevin said softly and put his arm around her. "Let's not let you freeze." Alviara smiled at him gratefully and rested her head on his shoulder. "I've dreamed of this...this very moment. Having you here with me in the most beautiful place in the entire world." He sighed. "You have to know that I didn't think I could do this. I didn't think I could tell you how I really felt. It was just...every time I saw you, I saw this powerful sorceress, my Father's favourite apprentice, a woman."
Alviara tried to interrupt but he didn't let and her continued. "But remembered those eyes. I remembered seeing you when you were at your weakest, when you were saving your Mother. You're eyes...Belar! They haunted me. I saw the real you in them, the you I fell in love with instantly."
Alviara's breath caught in her throat. Naevin lowered his arm around her and turned her to face him, the moonlight dancing with shadows on his face.
"It's true. Alviara, I love you."
A brilliant smile flashed across Alviara's face. With a laugh she hugged him hard.
"I love you too."

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A ring, a promise
Alviara dipped her toe gingerly into the water, sending ripples in all directions. The reflection of the pale moon on the water wavered, breaking into tiny shards of silver.
"Whoa," Alviara shivered. "It's cold." She quickly retracted her foot from the water and placed it back onto the soft green grass, silver in the moonlight. Rubbing her hands again, she started humming softly, her happiness seeming to overflow. Naevin was watching her from where he was seated on the mossy rock, his eyes never leaving her, as if he was afraid he would never see her again and so was drinking in every inch of her.
Slowly he got up and stood beside her. Grinning he took her hand and led her to the base of the waterfall.
"Do you want to walk through?" he asked impishly.
"Do you want to freeze to death?" she countered in the same tone as his. Naevin laughed.
"Never the easy one." He muttered and then without warning, pulled her with him and stepped into the stream.
A heavy torrent of water rushed onto their heads, beating down furiously. Alviara felt her shoulders go slightly numb but found that there wasn't actually enough water there to hurt them too much since the fall wasn't very high. The cold water ran down her, wetting her dress and causing it to cling to her. She could see Naevin, and still feel him holding her hand firmly. Even under a waterfall, Alviara felt like the most secure person in the world. Naevin moved quickly, pulling her strangely into the waterfall and to her surprise, she found herself in a small cave at the back.
The walls were green with moss and the noise almost deafening, for the sound of the rushing water was replicated and echoed here. But it felt wonderful to be standing where she was, behind a wall of water and looking out at it. Naevin smiled at her and she smiled back. He pushed away a strand of her wet hair from her face and slowly removed a ring from his finger. I love you, he mouthed and then slowly pushed the ring onto her finger.
Alviara gasped in surprise, her excitement uncontrollable. She looked at the ring, it was studded with a large opal, and its ever changing hues of colour were pleasing to her eye. She looked at Naevin questioningly. You're mine, he mouthed and laughed. She smiled and slapped him on the shoulder playfully. She looked at the ring again, it was oversized and hung loosely on her ring finger but she loved it. The stone was beautiful, and represented their love, she would wear it forever.

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The morning after
"Wake up, sleepyhead," A deep voice called out from somewhere. Alviara frowned, her eyes fluttering trying to shut out the voice that was waking her. She squinted harder and rolled over, pulling her pillow over her head. "Look, the sun’s out," The voice went on cheerily and Alviara could hear the yank of her curtains being pulled open. "Wake up, wake up, wake up," it chanted.
"All right, all right!" She grumbled, pushing off the pillow and peering at the irritating intruder. Smiling chestnut brown eyes returned her glare. Alviara sighed irritably, "Khuldir," she muttered, flinging her legs over the side of her bed and running a hand through her tousled hair. She squinted again. "What is the time?" Khuldir continued to smile, walking slowly towards her door. "Hello?" She waved her hands in front of him as if to catch his attention. "Have you gone temporarily deaf?" Khuldir grinned openly. "We-ell," He began. "It's just a little past...now lets see...a few minutes past...six thirty?"
"Six thirty?!?" Alviara shrieked.
Khuldir laughed, sprinting for the door. Alviara instantly reached for her pillows and aimed hard at him but he moved too soon and all she hit was the door that he slammed behind him.
"Sneaky little Drasnian!" She swore and sank back into her bed. She sighed, now that she was awake she could never find sleep again and so she rose from the bed again, and stood up and stretched. Her foot hit something hard on the wooden flooring.
Frowning, she bent down and picked it up. A shimmering opal, flashing in different colours, blinked back at her. Suddenly, the memories of the night before washed over her and she felt her body tingle all over. Smiling she walked to her mirror and pulled open her dresser drawer, lifting out a thin silver chain. She strung the ring onto it and fixed the chain around her neck.
There, she thought looking at the glinting ring hanging around her neck. She sighed and pushed the chain under the neckline of her dress, hiding the ring. At least for now, she thought. She heard a knock on her door and it opened a crack. Familiar dark hair and chestnut eyes peered in. "Is your anger cold yet?" he asked with a smile. In a flash Alviara had a pillow at him. With a thud it landed straight on Khuldir's nose.
"Gotcha," Alviara grinned.

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Conversations over breakfast
Alviara dragged herself into the kitchen and sank down into the wooden chair by the table. She felt tired and drowsy but not enough to make her go back to sleep. Cursing Khuldir in her head for waking her up at this hour, she reached over and poured herself a glass of milk from the jug on the table.
"Good morning," she heard Khuldir's voice say from behind her. She turned and smiled wryly at him.
"You've said that three times already." He smiled and seated himself beside her. "Is everyone still asleep?" asked Alviara. He nodded and looked at the full spread of breakfast that lay on the kitchen table. "Myra leaves it out every night," Alviara explained, "so that whoever wakes the earliest doesn't have to go hungry." Khuldir grinned.
"Good idea." The table was strewn with little glass bottles of different jams, strawberry, raspberry, grape, marmalade. Dishes of butter and cheese were also laid out, with glass covers over them. Two jugs of fresh goat's milk added finishing touches along with the long loaves of bread.
Khuldir could hear his stomach rumble. Alviara laughed looking at his hunger stricken face. "I'll make us some tea," she said and rose.
"Can I have the rest of your milk?" Khuldir asked innocently as she searched for a pot. Alviara laughed again.
"Sure," she replied and watched him gulp it all down.
"So where did you disappear last night?" Khuldir queried while she boiled some water in the pot. Alviara bit her lip, not knowing what to say. Khuldir looked up from the slice of bread he was buttering, confused at her silence. "It's just that I didn't see you after the dance so I was wondering." He explained. She nodded, and cleared her throat.
"Yeah, I went for a walk, felt like having some fresh air." She winced inside her head, that sounded so lame. Khuldir smiled as if he knew but didn't say anything more. Alviara added a handful of tea leaves to the boiling water and then slowly strained away the dregs and poured the tea into two blue porcelain tea cups.
Placing one in front of Khuldir, she sat down again. "Milk?"sShe asked and poured some into his tea cup. "Sugar?" He motioned two fingers as his mouth was too full with a jam sandwich. Alviara emptied two spoons of sugar into his tea and stirred it up. She did the same for hers and took a sip.
"Do you want a sandwich?" Khuldir asked. Alviara smiled.
"How kind. Yes, can I have a strawberry one?"
"Sure," he replied. He clumsily picked up a spoon to scrape out the jam and it fell to the floor. Alviara bent down to pick up the spoon, and pushed away her hair that had fallen out of place. She handed over the spoon to Khuldir but he was looking at her strangely. His eyes were flitting towards her neckline. Shocked, Alviara looked down. She had donned a grey wool dress and the stark colour was bare and unadorned. Except for...Naevin's ring! She had strung it on a chain around her neck to keep it safe and tucked it in to hide it but now it was hanging out, glimmering in the light. Khuldir looked at her, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Is that what I think it is?"
Alviara was unknowingly biting her lip again. "Uh..." she said, at loss for words. Khuldir was still looking at her, a bemused expression painted over his face. Alviara stared at her lap.
"Gods!" she heard Khuldir exclaim. "I knew it! Belar!" He swore. Alviara looked up, his face was cracked into a mile wide smile and he was laughing. "Naevin." He shook his head slightly as he said his name. "I could see it."
Alviara narrowed her eyes at him but remained silent. Her hands absently moved to her arrow shaped amulet and started toying with it. "Oh, Alvi, don't get me wrong. I like him, he's a good guy, really." He beamed a smile at her and she couldn't help smiling back when he did. She blushed slightly and felt the tips of her ears go red which caused Khuldir to laugh even harder.
"What's so funny?" she demanded. Khuldir gasped for breath.
"Nothing. It's just I've never seen you like this, you know? You never really were looking for a man or anything. Somehow, you were more like a..." Khuldir cleared his throat when he saw Alviara raising her eyebrow dangerously. "Loner." He decided for in the end and that seemed to satisfy her.
She shrugged. "There's a time for everything." He smiled and nodded.
"And it's time for you." He grinned mischievously at her and she rolled her eyes in response. Then hitting him lightly on the head with the spoon she said,
"Can we go back to having breakfast now? Oh, there's some of the wedding cake left inside that box over there." Her eyes sparkled.
"Mmm...What're you waiting for? Let's have some!"
Alviara laughed and rose. While cutting a slice she turned to Khuldir, "Hey," she said and he looked up. "Not a word of this to anyone yet OK?"
He nodded and smiled. "I understand."

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Love's rose
"Bye!" Alviara waved fervently. Javed and Lirial smiled and waved back answering in the same affectation. Alviara sighed and stood with her family watching the two of them and their carriage disappear down the road, clouded by the dust the horses' hooves were beating up. Alviara felt an unsettling feeling inside her, as sharp as shooting pain. It wasn't that her favourite brother was leaving for a while nor was it the recent demise of her mother and the whirlwind of events that had crowded up her life after. No, it was none of that. Somehow all of that had receded into the background when one person had entered her life.
Naevin.
His name itself sent flutters through her stomach. Every memory was like a vivid flash in her mind and she kept replaying it, relishing every moment. But...her heart still ached at her disappointment as she looked over at Everlin. His son was not with him, Naevin's absence was conspicuous and every time she looked over at the empty spot her mind would worry and wonder...Where was he? Why wasn't he here? Doesn't he feel the same way? And then her practical self would take over and reassure her. Of course he does. He gave you his ring as a sign of that remember? Last night was incredible. But then she would think... then why isn't he here?
"Worried?"
Alviara broke out of her thoughts and looked up. She smiled.
"Everlin." She recognized.
"Want to talk about it?" The old man furrowed his snowy brow.
"Have I ever?" She asked archly, evading the question quickly and stopping herself from blurting everything out.
"Some things never change." He laughed, his eyes twinkling. The same blue eyes that on someone else made Alviara's heart beat faster. "I could always see through your measly attempts to try and change the topic."
Alviara sighed.
"Well, anyway, come to me if you ever want to." He smiled again and then lowered his voice. "Oh and by the way, I suggest you go look on your bed." He winked.
Alviara looked startled and then smiled, half in surprise and half in excitement. Without another word, she turned on her heel and disappeared inside, almost running to her bedroom.
There on her white pillow lay a folded note and a half bloomed red rose. She smiled shyly, lifting the rosebud and feeling its soft velvet petals against her cheek. Laughing at her silliness she placed the rose back down and lifted the note and unfolded it.

Meet me?
-N

She read it again and again. Seven letters. But a promise of seeing him again, just like last night. Her heart leaped again. He loved her! Laughing at herself again she plonked herself onto the bed and lay there dreaming.

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Shock
Tucking her hair behind her ear nervously, Alviara started making her way towards the little white house that was perched next to the large fields of wheat, shimmering and swaying in the wind. She breathed hard, her heart beat like a drum against her chest.
As she walked down the winding rutted path, she marveled at how nothing here had changed in so long. It was here that she had been trained to become a sorceress. Out by the little garden by the house was where she and Everlin along with a few Rivan boys would attempt to master the arts of sorcery.
Alviara smiled as she neared the house for the first rosebush she had ever grown with her Will was still blooming under the tender and loving hands of her teacher, adding a splash of pink to the garden. She smoothed her light blue dress consciously and then stepped up to the door and knocked lightly. She waited for a few moments and tried again, louder this time.
No answer.
Confused, she walked round to the back and looked around for a sign of anyone inside. She went up to the back door and tried pushing it open and surprisingly it was.
"Naevin?" She called out, as soon as she had stepped in. She looked around. The house was as dusty as she remembered it. Everlin had been very tacky when it came to house keeping and his wife had died when she had given birth to Naevin and so there was no woman to take charge.
Drawing on her memory she recalled that the door near the kitchen led to Naevin's room. He and her brother Nasir used to play there when they were very young.
She walked over and opened the door and peered in. It was empty. Smiling slightly to herself she gave in to her curiosity and entered, shutting the door quietly behind her. A large bed filled a part of the room, its cover of blue feeling soft when she ran her hand over it. She sat down on it, and looked around. Next to the bed was a small table and on it was a single picture decorated with a silver frame.
Alviara picked up the picture to have a closer look. A smiling woman with thick red hair and honey brown eyes smiled back at her. She was absolutely beautiful, with well chiseled features and a glorious smile. In her arms she was holding a little boy of about two. The boy had a crown of red hair and was smiling lopsidedly. Alviara frowned slightly and looked closely at him. His crinkled eyes were flashing with blue. Sky-blue.
Alviara felt the back of the picture frame, it was padded with something like paper. She turned it over and saw that there was letter at the back. It looked like it had been read time and time again. Opening it up, she began to read.
A few minutes later Alviara was running out of the house. Tears streaming openly down her face and her hair whipping in the wind.

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Leaving
Alviara hurriedly rubbed away her tears and tried to put on a straight face. She was sitting as the door step of her home for she couldn't bear to go inside and talk to anyone right now. Her heart was in pieces, splinters that were piercing and hurting her deeply. She sighed and shuddered, trying to calm herself, but to no effect. The footsteps behind her were becoming louder and she straightened herself up and tried to act normal.
"Hey," she heard Khuldir's voice say as he sank down beside her. She kept looking away, fearing that if he looked her in the eye she would break down.
"Hi," she replied softly. Then looking up carefully, she noticed that he had a large brown bag beside him. "Where are you going?" She questioned.
He patted his bag and said, "Back home, to Boktor. My work here's been long done and I think I've delayed the trip back enough. It was wonderful meetingyou again, Alvi, but it's time that I left." Alviara remained unmoving and then nodded silently. Khuldir squinted at her.
"What's wrong?" She shook her head and looked out at the horizon. Khuldir remained silent for a moment and then reached over and gave her a warm hug. He rubbed her back gently and then let go.
"Oh Alvi," he whispered when he saw a tear sliding down her face.
"I'll be back soon." Alviara half-laughed through her tears, her emotions seemed uncontrollable in the condition that she was in. He patted her hand gently and then said, "Well, I better make a move. My ship's leaving in half an hour." He rose from his place and lugged the bag over his shoulder. Alviara smiled, looking up at him.
"Come visit soon." She said softly. He smiled back, "I'll come and see you in Camaar. I frequent the ports mostly so I might bump into you." She nodded absently now and he looked at her concernedly again. Noticing his look, she forced a smile at him and egged him to end the goodbyes and get along with it. He waved one last time and then started walking down the path. Alviara watched him silently until he was just a speck along the horizon.
She seemed to be focusing on the green pastures with their white dots of sheep but her eyes seemed glazed and lost in thought. Suddenly she whispered, "I'll see you in Camaar..." Her eyes suddenly had more clarity. "Camaar." She said again. In a minute she was inside writing a letter and the out the door, a bag in her hand.
She took the same path Khuldir had taken, out to the docks.

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Pieces of my soul
A page from Alviara's diary.

A Cabin
I'm aboard a Mimbrate ship now that's sailing towards Vo Mimbre but has a stop at Camaar along the way. I met Khuldir at the docks and needless to say he was very surprised and questioned my hasty decision, but I think he noticed that there was something definitely wrong and adamantly decided that he would not let me travel alone and has decided to come along. At present I think he's below deck getting drunk with the rest of the sailors. I guess Mimbrate or Cherek, sailors all over the West are the same.
It seems funny as I look back on the last few pages that I haven't had the time or solitude to pen down anything that has happened over the trip to Riva. There's just a huge gap between my last entries from when I was in Boktor to now. Somehow I wish to leave it that way.
I think it was foolish of me to ever expect life to take a straight course. I just figured that since it had already thrown me into the depths of despair with Mother gone, I couldn't sink any further, but somehow fate always seems to jeer me and prove me wrong.
All my life I was never dependent on anyone for my happiness. My family was a source of sustenance and comfort but I had learnt to survive without them. My friends were good companions but I preferred being a loner. It's ironic that, for the first time that I ever trusted of even "loved" someone I would get so horribly...betrayed.
Though I perhaps am not really letting out even half the anguish I am feeling now, I'm trying to control my heart and stop myself from giving up completely. Every minute is like a mountain that I'm trying to climb to try and prevent myself from thinking of what he has done. It hurts so much.
Perhaps going back to Camaar will make me forget...perhaps. But he...

The next few sentences are blurred by tear stains.

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